PELE RECALLS

THAT BANKS SAVE

PELE and Gordon Banks will forever be connected by the save of the century at the World Cup in Mexico in 1970, and the Brazilian legend explained why yesterday as he paid tribute to a “fine human being” and “a goalkeeper with magic”.

The death of the 81-year-old former England keeper was announced by his former club Stoke City yesterday.

Banks leapt across the goalmouth to turn Pele’s header around the post in a first-round clash in Guadalajara. The miraculous stop was soon dubbed “the save of the century”.

“For many people, their memory of Gordon Banks is defined by the save he made against me in 1970,” Pele said in a Facebook post. “I understand why.

“The save was one of the best I have ever seen, in real life and in all the thousands of games I have watched since.

“When you are a footballer, you know straight away how well you have hit the ball. I hit that header exactly as I had hoped. Exactly where I wanted it to go. And I was ready to celebrate.”

“But then this man, Banks, appeared in my sight, like a kind of blue phantom, is how I described him. He came from nowhere and he did something I didn’t feel was possible. He pushed my header, somehow, up and over. And I couldn’t believe what I saw. Even now when I watch it l, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe how he moved so far, so fast.

“I scored so many goals in my life but many people... always ask me about that save. While it was phenomenal, my memory of Gordon is not defined by that; it is defined by his friendship. He was a kind and warm man who gave so much...”